Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GUEST, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GUEST, by                    
First Line: Thou who tarriest at my gate
Last Line: The greater love their guest.
Subject(s): Guests; Love; Visiting


THOU who tarriest at my gate,
Pass along the sunny street.
Do faces marred as mine is, wait
With smiles a guest to greet?

LOVE, who touched my lips with fire,
Sadly smiling, granted me
The fulness of my fool's desire --
A scar for all to see.

PASS -- thou knowest I do not dare
From my toil mine eyes to raise
Lest I see thee standing there
As in those other days.

BALEFUL Guest, hast thou not wrought
All thy will of evil yet?
Hast forgot thy scar, that naught
Can soothe me to forget?

CHILD, lay by thy bitterness --
Evil would I work thee none
Rather would I bid thee bless
What cannot be undone.

EYES grown soft with many a tear
Are not hasty to be hard,
And comfort speaks to shame and fear
Through lips my fire hath scarred.

DO not fear to lift thine eyes,
Do not fear to ope thy door.
Thou shalt know my Paradise
Who knewest my Hell of yore.

'TIS the narrow hearts that break
And in breaking stand confessed
Happier so, if thus they make
The Greater Love their guest.





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